Flooding From Lee Brings Back Memories Of Agnes In 1972

The rain ended sooner than anticipated.  The skies are finally clearing, and the flood waters along the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg to Wilkes-Barre to Binghamton have begun to recede.  River crest forecasts at Harrisburg have been revised downward a couple times already.  Now, the Susquehanna is expected to crest at 25.2 feet in Pennsylvania’s capital city.

With the rains stopping in Central Pennsylvania and upstate New York, a major catastrophe appears to have been averted.  It is small consolation for those with homes damaged or destroyed by the flood waters, but it could have been much worse.  For instance, the rains from what was left of Hurricane Agnes in June 1972 brought the Susquehanna River up to over 32 feet at Harrisburg.

Speaking of Agnes, there are quite a few similarities between that devastating storm nearly 40 years ago, and Tropical Storm Lee.  While one was a hurricane that struck earlier in the season versus a strong tropical storm that struck during the peak of the season, both were quite alike in some respects.  Both emerged in the Gulf of Mexico.  Agnes made landfall near Appalachicola, Florida while Lee came ashore in South Central Louisiana.

Each storm combined with a frontal system to bring tremendous rainfall to the Susquehanna Valley region.  Both storms stalled over the region for several days.  Both caused significant flooding in Harrisburg, Wilkes-Barre, and Binghamton.  Agnes appears to have been worse while Lee surpassed the flooding of 2006.  Nevertheless, both storms left their marks on residents, who will have to rebuild their homes and lives.